With all this talk about proper trailers, trailer tires and safe towing
speeds, I decided to share my bizarre experience in the hope that it might
same some other poor sap from the same mistake.
I had been discussing a new customized sailboat trailer with a small time
manufacturer from rural Nova Scotia off & on for a year before I decided to
order one. I found this guys ad in our local paper and was fooled by a
glossy website.
When ordering I specified in writing three times that the trailer "must have
a capacity to hold 2000 pounds"
What did I get...
a trailer where the springs were rated for 2300 lbs and the axle 2500 lbs.
The weight of the trailer was under reported on the registration by 37%..
that is 450 lbs rather than the real weight of 617 pounds.
note: boat/trailer combo weighed 2330 lbs. motor, gas can, anchor not
included in this weight
The rear u-bolts holding the angle iron suspension assembly onto the frame
were fastened right up against the rear spring shackles.
the spring pivot points were welded to this angle iron at 25" on center
...rather than the 25.75" required by the spring manufacturer. This is
critical.
result... springs lengthened out and shackles flipped back up ..and stayed..
against the frame causing the fenders to lower on top of the tires...wearing
the new tires down to about 1/3 of their thread and actually burned holes
through a fairly heavy fender. Luckly we found the problem at a gas fillup
before the tires blew on the highway. (note: this was the first road trip)
Small time manufacturer denies all responsibility and blames springs. He
puts claim in against spring supplier quoting wrong springs and claims the
springs were broken...they aren't I have them in my back yard.
the only way I may recover any of my expenses is through legal action.
My advice..only buy from a well known manufacturer with a good reputation
where you can see examples of the product.